New Media and Conflict Management in a Pluralistic Nigeria: A Perspective on the Opportunities and Threats of the Platforms

Abstract

This study interrogates the place of new media in conflict management in Nigeria, taking into consideration the positive and negative implications of their numerous platforms such as online news sites, social networking sites and blogs among others. This assessment is done against the backdrop of the myriad ethno-religious conflicts that have engulfed the nation. Data were collected from secondary sources such as books, journals, seminar papers, websites and newspapers among others. The data were contextually analysed. Findings reveal that new media have potentials which, if effectively harnessed, can make them to serve as good conduits for conflict management in Nigeria, such as interactivity, interconnectivity, `delocatedness', ubiquity and accessibility among others. On the other hand, it is discovered that the excessive freedom that characterizes the new media makes them prone to abuse, as it enables users to engage in deliberate spread of fake news, false and misleading stories, exaggerated truths and inflamed stories, publishing of gruesome pictures, biased and unbalanced reportage among other unprofessional and unwholesome practices. The study decries these unwholesome practices, and advocates for self-regulation by the masses in the course of their social media engagements for conflict reporting. It also calls for implementation of peace journalism principles by the masses who have become active reporters of conflict. This way, the negative effects of new media will be minimized and their positive impacts maximized for effective conflict management in the country.